You are so right! It is a very strict NICU. We have tried everything, but they say it is for Parker's own good, as well as those that share the level 2 room with him. I don't really mind, but I wish they would make the exception for her sister. Their reasoning for saying no, "if others found out, then it would open the door to everyone". I guess I can understand their stance. I did let all of our close family have a chance to see him just after he was born. My brain must not have been funtioning, because the nurse told me that only 2 at a time could see him, and only parents and grandparents are allowed. I somehow did not hear the whole parents and grandparents thing, and proceeded to shuttle them in 2 at a time. When she returned from another delivery, I was chastised for it. I sincerely apologized, but was being completely honest about the last part of the instructions not getting to my brain. Kind of funny, but I still feel awkward when she is working.quote:Originally posted by hannahsmom

Hi, Rob! Your NICU sounds strict! Just parents and grandparents? Our NICU's rule was that one of the baby's parents had to be with the guest(s) during the visit. All of my family members and friends and co-workers came up at some time or another - we were in there almost 4 months. When Hannah was first born, though, they did say just family because she was so critical. My best friend was there with my parents in the waiting room during the delivery, and when Hannah was born my parents said she was my sister so she could go in with them and my husband to see the baby - so my friend saw my baby before I did! lol! I was in recovery for three days I think before I could see her. I would just explain to your primary nurse the close connection your wife has with her sister and how it will boost your wife's spirits to have her sister there. They should take your wife's well-being into consideration, because she still has some recovery ahead of her. Good luck![:)]


Suzanne
Mommy to Hannah Rose
26 weeker born 8/24/01
severe pre-e

the NICU had some rescritcions but not alot, There were only 2 in at a time, you had to wash up and wear the robes..there was a list that you made out of 4 other people besides the parents that could go in there. I think that was it...you had to buzz the door bell before you could go in and they had a camera to see who you were, they were awesome and got to know who was visting and what baby they were going to see. Oh and we did have set hours ...well you could go there any time except between the hours of 6:30-7am/pm, because they did shift changes and reports then

Mommy to:

Breanna (1-25-02)
Emilie (2-19-03)

Hi, Rob! Your NICU sounds strict! Just parents and grandparents? Our NICU's rule was that one of the baby's parents had to be with the guest(s) during the visit. All of my family members and friends and co-workers came up at some time or another - we were in there almost 4 months. When Hannah was first born, though, they did say just family because she was so critical. My best friend was there with my parents in the waiting room during the delivery, and when Hannah was born my parents said she was my sister so she could go in with them and my husband to see the baby - so my friend saw my baby before I did! lol! I was in recovery for three days I think before I could see her. I would just explain to your primary nurse the close connection your wife has with her sister and how it will boost your wife's spirits to have her sister there. They should take your wife's well-being into consideration, because she still has some recovery ahead of her. Good luck![:)]


Suzanne
Mommy to Hannah Rose
26 weeker born 8/24/01
severe pre-e

My son Parker is currently residing in a Nicu, and for the most part, I think he is in good hands. His primary nurse is FANTASTIC! She tells us when things aren't as good as they should be and when he is doing better than expected. She truely cares for him. The problem is that she can't work 24/7. The other nurses have their own personalities and ways of doing things and just when you think you have adapted to their way, a new set of nurses come on. Our nursing staff works 3 12 hr shifts and of for 3. The Doctors are part of a group, they rotate once a month, 2 at a time. I think I would be much more at ease if I knew more about what was going on, what to expect, and what to ask. Ms. Garrett gave me a site that should help me with these issues.
Only parents and grandparents are able to see Parker. This is good in a way, but I really wish they would allow an exception. My wife's sister is VERY close to her and I and it hurts that she won't be able to see him until he is released. We have to scrub and wear gowns. He is in a Level 2 Nicu. I am relying on info that I get from all of the wonderful people on this site in order to help us through this and look back with fond memories of the people that cared for our little blessing while he was there.

Rob Lawrence
father of Parker, 3-29-04, 30 weeks, 1lb. 14oz.

Denise, that one nurse sounds like a piece of work! I'm glad the rest of your NICU stay wasn't so bad, though. It sounds like they've relaxed the rules in the past few years. A friend of mine who delivered her son at Northside about 8 years ago said it was soooo restrictive. Good for them for letting up some! [8D]

Aimee
Georgia State Coordinator

Ds Nicky - 3/24/00 (28 wks - eclampsia)
Ds Kalen - 7/10/03 (36 weeks - preeclampsia)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/k/kalentyler/ (Pswd: ilovemommy)

Sayonib,
I am so sorry you had to go through all of that.
Congrats that everyone is feeling better now!
Take care!!!
Love, Jennifer

Mama to Bella,1/02/03, born 33 and 5/7 weeks at 3 lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH,& HELLP.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

We had a wonderful NICU. It was actually a special care nursery which, I beleive is only slightly different in that any babies under 2lbs or born earlier than 31 weeks were transferred to another hospital. Travis is the smallest baby they've kept there since opening this nursery 3 years ago.

The nurses were wonderful about keeping us updated and since the unit is fairly new, for a while Travis was the only baby in the special care unit and all kinds of rules were bent for us because there were not other patients and parents to consider. Two visitors were allowed when other patients were there (as many as we wished within reason if he was the only one), and no gowns had to be worn. One woman had to wear a mask because of a fever blister, but usually not an issue because if you were sick, you were asked not to visit. The records were open and the only time I was actually kicked out was when another baby in critical condition was in there and being worked on and transferred. In fact, they eventually asked me to come in to take Travis to the back room because they needed their nursing staff to help with the critical baby and Travis was fussy and wanted his mommy. (He was about ready to go home at that point anyway) The nurses were wonderful and grew so attached to Travis because there weren't a lot of babies that were there as long as he was (8 wks).[:D]

Jen

I delivered Evan at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. To answer Aimee's question on the other thread. I am sorry it is a month late. I had a good and bad NICU experience. We were also kicked out when we had new admits to our pod in the NICU. I would consider it to be a very large NICU department but I dont have alot experience with that. When we were in the NICU and my son was on CPAP one nurse wouldn't let us hold him, we found out 3 days later it was her(the nurse's)preference. I guess it would have been too much work for her. After he was there for 3 day we got another nurse and the rest of our experience was great. Expecially when we were moved to the feed and grow side. All the nurses there were great. They let my sister feed Evan his 5:00 am bottle then I would feed his 9:00 and 5:00, and my mom would feed him is 1:00pm bottle. Everyone there treated my sister and mom like they were welcome and of course my husband and I were treated so kindly. Also we had a lot of visitors in the NICU and it was ok the only rules about that was only 2 people at the bedside at a time, one of the 4 of us(me,husband,mom,or sister)I got to choose 3 people that could visit without me, had escort others and no one under 12 years old.

Denise
Emily 3-6-02 41 1/2wks, 7lbs15oz
Evan 10-21-03 35wks, 5lbs6oz, PIH/PE (placental abruption)

Just read Kara's post and wanted to say that Ellie's records were open to us too. They were always there for us to read whenever we wanted. I didnt realise for the first few days and when I read them for the first time there was a funny moment reading about Ellie's two grandmothers coming to visit her when she was just born....Ellie only had one surviving grandmother, the other 'granny'was my mum's much younger friend!
It was a great help knowing we could just read the notes and didnt have to ask permission.

Sue (40)
Chris (37)
DD Eleanor Susan (Ellie)
born at 27wks severe PE
24 July 03 - 20 August 03

The number one thing that I appreciated at our NICU, which I don't think anybody else mentioned, Max's medical records were entirely open to us. There were two binders on the desk next to his isolette. We could come in anytime and read lab results, nurses daily report, etc. Nobody had to be there when we read it. And if we had questions we would just tell the doc on duty that day and they would come by when they had a chance. It kept us very up to date on what was going on and kept us involved in making medical decisions for Max. Another thing most of you didn't mention. My DH and I felt very involved in Max's medical care and only life threatening decisions did not involve us. And let me tell you, we had a lot to say about his course of medical care because we are both opinionated (me more so than DH)

Other than that, I think our experience was pretty much the same. There were more shift changes were we couldn't go in (3-4 a day), but anyone could visit with parent (as long as older than 18) if they were a sibling of the baby they had to be older than 4. We were able to hold Max as soon as he was on conventional vent (couldn't hold when on osciallator, tubing too stiff) and he was in stable condition. We were allowed to peronalize his area and even became friends with some of the nurses.

Kara (33)
DH, John (35)
Max, 1/20/03, 25 wks, 534g. (IUGR), severe PE
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mightymax/